Episode 27 - The Grassroots Rugby Early Season Review

Slight change to the schedule this week, but we go through the leagues from the Championship down the leagues and review how teams have started and what are potentially the leagues are to watch for action!
We review the women leagues and Rugby Europe too, so take a listen and see if your team is reviewed this week!

Transcript

[00:00:00] Well, hello, and welcome to another episode of Rugby Through The Leagues podcast. This week hasn't quite gone to plan due to a few, , issues., a poorly child and being a duty parent. And Dan, our guest, is over in Brazil. So there's been a few issues with timings and internet etc. We're going to fill this opportunity with a bit of a rally around the grounds, around what we've done, what the plan is for the pod as well, because I know I've mentioned a few things in the planning and obviously how long this round of podcast is going to continue.

So I want to try and run through that while we've we've got an opportunity to slot one in. Don't worry. We will still get Dan on as a guest. The plan is to hopefully get him still this week. Probably just bumping him into the next one. We'll wait and see. I won't obviously let you know until the end.

But there's a good chance that he'll probably be on the next episode. If not, we've got another grassroots rugby. [00:01:00] Episode lined up with, , Richmond Shire, . Big message with me on TikTok. Really good bunch of lads had a bit of a shit season last season. Got big plans this year, started the season pretty well.

Got them coming on, got their, got one of the lads and the captain and the vice captain. Be good to get a bit more grassroots back into the pod as well. If it's not Dan on the next one, It'll be them and then if it's not, if it's Dan, then they're going to be on the one afterwards. So we're still getting Dan on.

It's just trying to logistically button it all in together. So we we've obviously got big plans. The, this round of episodes is, we've got over 25 episodes now, so we're running pretty well. The plan is to probably get this up to the end of November, , to end the first season of Rugby Through The Leagues podcast.

Gives, , me a chance to have some time off. Over Christmas, obviously we've managed to make it muddle through during during our travels and stuff like that. And just, I just want to try and now refine the [00:02:00] editing process. I want to, because we've had a few issues with Riverside, who we were using, we're now using the the scripts.

I want to try and get that all refined, make sure we can start creating. Still produce the best product possible. So I've bought some fancy gear. I want to make sure that everything's set up, everything's running and stuff like that at a minute. I'm just getting through the episodes, which has has hampered some of the, probably the quality, which I'm not happy with myself.

And you guys have probably noticed, but I want to try and make sure we get that all refined. So we're going to get through to probably the end of November. And then that be that. Look at restarting again in February with some huge guests as well. We've got some really big guests lined up and I think that'd be great to not bolt on the end of this season but we want to start the next season with a nice big bang as well.

We've also got an episode coming up in a couple of weeks. Couple of my mates back in Back in England, that are on my we've got a group chat, rugby group chat, so all we do is chat shit [00:03:00] about rugby usually. What we've seen, what we've done, games at the weekend, they're both Bristol Bears fans as well, so Bristol lads.

Will obviously probably quite enjoy that, they're big fans of Joe Batley as well, so they're proper fangirling, so if you if you remember I did mention them. In the previous pods, but got my couple of my mates Buster and Adam are going to jump on and we're bringing back the grassroots rugby series.

So obviously during the summer, I managed to make it out to the likes of Newbury and Petersfield. We want to really kick that off again and get the guys out on a weekly basis if possible. And then if not fortnightly basis depending on availability. So obviously if you guys want. Us to come to your rugby club and do a bit of an intro and Show us around your new ground or your ground that you've got being built or just your current setup we're always available for a league lunch as well I'm not going to turn them now, but we want to just be able to come in speak before the game [00:04:00] speak to both teams obviously interview during halftime and then Do a final round up and hopefully obviously get some footage of your man of your match and your dick of your day process as well because they're always the good bits to see in the game.

We want to show grassroots rugby how good it is as well. So 16th of November is hopefully going to be the first game we're looking at getting to. So if you see this episode and you've got a home game on that weekend, local to Portsmouth to start with, then drop us a message because it'd be really good to, to get you guys on.

Get the get Buster and Adam in and started and then we can really hit the ground running and start getting a few more names in. It'd be nice to get lower down the leagues as well. We've obviously done a quite a bit in Regional 2, League. So it'd be nice to get further down the league and then further up the league depending on what's available, what games are on those weekends.

So yeah, let us know, reach out and we want to come and see your club, see what you've done. See what the, how you set up and try [00:05:00] and put you guys in the shop window as well, because I think there was a really good response to what we did during the summer and don't want to miss that opportunity just because I'm stuck over here in sunny Spain.

Obviously it's not so sunny today, so you guys have got a one up on me there, but it's it'd be great to get back out to grassroots rugby and show on exactly what this podcast is about. So Buster and Adam are going to be joining us. It's going to be a new episode probably. Early November, probably the 9th, probably would be be around then, the 8th or 9th would be the episode that they jump on, we do a proper intro and go through what they what they know about rugby and how they love the game and obviously where they wanna help grow the pod.

Reach out, let us know, let's hopefully we can get to a club near you and and show off what you guys have got and where grassroots rugby is growing. And obviously where others and it may need support. So either way, we can hopefully get that shown off to you. And then back to today's episode, we [00:06:00] want to highlight pretty much the start of the season.

So I used to be able to do a bit of intros before and, but the pods, the episode interviews have been getting a bit longer cause we've been getting more detailed guests on. Obviously previous guests, Lexi, For those that don't know, she has now finished her challenge. So she's in the process of submitting the paperwork to the Guinness World Records.

Just want to shout out a massive, Lexi and what an amazing feat she did. Completed it in the 45 days as planned. I was in the WhatsApp groups. Some of the footage was quite horrific. Some of the stuff she had to get through and obviously it wasn't the easiest. But she's she's an absolute trooper.

Managed to smash it out of the park. Managed to get back down to Sandy Park at the weekend to do the final ball handover as well. That was great to see. She got on the pitch, managed to do the handover as well. Lexi, you're a hero. Thank you so much for jumping on. Everyone that hasn't been able to donate as well, drop a comment.

Just follow get back onto the end to end [00:07:00] rugby relay. Cause what a challenge that was and what a feat to get it completed as well. So Lexi, well done. And everyone else that hasn't been able to pop a, any couple of quid in a, in the pot, then do what you can. And it'd be greatly appreciated.

So moving on, we've, we want to catch up with how the season started. So obviously a lot of the clubs we've been to have had. Brilliant start. Some have gone up and down. There's been some leagues that have raced away. Some leagues from last season that are still pretty close again. So I want to try and do a little bit of a run through for the national from championship down and see how those leagues are potentially going to pan out for the seasons as well.

So I think it'd be really good to, to catch up. Obviously the likes of Havant that we obviously had an interview, a couple of interviews with Petersfield were obviously doing. Doing their bits, Newbury in the same league, obviously Gosport can't go too far away from Gosport as well. So be good to see where everything is and [00:08:00] It looks like we've got a bit of a good championship battle going on at the minute as well.

So Coventry propping the table up as well doing very well for four wins for bonus point wins as well Putting some scores on the board as well Ealing Got three wins and a defeat. So that, how costly could that be at the end of the season as well for Ling? So Coventry really flying Caldy and Cambridge supporting the league at the bottom pirates have dropped off as well.

They're down to down in 10th on eight points. Chin up and forth. What a start for them. There was a few people on TikTok saying it was an embarrassment that they were in the, in our championship and stuff like that. But, they're they're definitely hanging their hat on being well worthy to be up there.

Two wins, two losses. 131 points scored. And on 12 points in four behind Bedford Blue, rest of the teams in between very [00:09:00] close pretty much separated by a point or two. So it looks like it's going to be a very good season. Let's see how costly that one defeat for Ealing will be at the end of the year.

I'd like to see it be costly just because it's nice to see a competitive championship, but I personally don't see it affecting them that much. At the end it was Donny that done them as well on the couple of weekends ago by point so 35 36 so fair play to Doncaster for getting a big scout there and Hopefully there's a couple more.

Let's get it nice and competitive Obviously the likes of Chinnor that are not available in the Premiership Rugby Cup as well So hope they might get might benefit them by getting a few Subs Less games in the season as well. To hopefully carry on their big start to the season. Championship. It looks like it's going to be another barnstormer.

Hopefully we can obviously keep that ticking along and even keep Ealing close enough so it doesn't run away [00:10:00] as well. I know that there's the new tender that's gone out as well. With Worcester and Wasps and London Irish resubmitting their applications I believe for the new formation of division two or whatever the RFU are calling it now.

It looks like another fiddle body RFU to make sure their mates are back in where they started. And I don't think it's fair on the teams around them that have obviously survived, had to go through the hardships and stuff like that. I need to probably look a little bit more into it, whether I'm jumping the gun there, but I think it's I think it's another stitch up for the clubs that are in there and the clubs that have been around it, and just to make sure that the old guard return into, to what they want.

And they'll probably open the door for a couple of seasons to get them back in the prem, and then that's what they want. So let's open, I'm just being a cynical old bastard, but everything's on the door as well to shine. What I'm pointing at as potential Nat one. It looks like it's gonna [00:11:00] be another big league for a lot of for a lot of big clubs.

Rams are on 29.6 wins. Looks like they missed out on one bonus point win as well. So they're on 29 Richmond, second on 26. So one five wins and a draw there. Titans, five wins and a loss. They look like they're bang up there in third with 25 points. You've got Birmingham Moseley in fourth with 24.

So five points separates the top four. Plymouth Albion in fifth on 22. So Roslyn Park and you've got Blackheath, obviously James Shanahan over there. They're in seventh. So three wins, three losses for Black, Blackheath, which is great to see. Hopefully they can really make a dent this year. Big signings. It looks like they've started the season fairly well.

You've got Sale FC, Dings Crusaders obviously went up last year as well. Darlington, Modem Park though are bottom. Six defeats one [00:12:00] point. Looks like they've picked up a a bonus point defeat as well. Esher, got promoted last year, they're in 13th on 7, but, It's so close to start, basically 13th and 9th are separated by six points, so cut the results either way.

Could could go well for a lot of teams. Looks like that's going to be another good one. Be great to see Rams and Richmond and Rotherham all up there fighting at the end of the season. See how that pans out, because it looks like we've started pretty well. So let's see how that carries on throughout the season.

We're only six games in, so I know this is a bit of a, an early punt at what's going on, but just want to keep everyone. In the loop on the grassroots stuff that not everyone gets a chance to sit there and run through it as Everyone well not everyone, but the way those that watch one of my earlier episodes lead to North National League to North was a big league last year and Separated by only a couple of points and points difference and leaves tights back up there again six wins All [00:13:00] bonus points on 30 points.

They've already put 200, 223 points on the board for themselves. Lymm are in second now, so they've got 261 points. They've scored, they've got 30 points as well. Six wins, six, six bonus points by the looks of that Sheffield, six wins. It looks like one of them felt wasn't wasn't the bonus points.

They're on 29, so the top three have pretty much pulled. away from fourth at the minute. So they're Fylde are in fourth with 20 points. So there's nine and 10 points separate the top three and fourth already. So I think last season was pretty much the same. It was then separated by a couple of points in and some really hefty points on the board.

So it looks like that national league two north is going to be a big league to, to watch as well. Sheffield tigers are Not completely adrift, but they've got six, six defeats, but five points. So it looks like they've had five defeats by by [00:14:00] bonus points. So they kept themselves in there. Got Hull and Hull Aeonians in there as well.

So it looks like that's a potential local Derby coming up as well at some points. So it looks like a, another really tough league, National League Two North, some big big points on the board to start with the start of the season. And last, if anything was last season to go by, it's going to be A big league to, to watch at the end as well, we're now going into National League 2 East, which, obviously, those that know, Havant are in there. Tonbridge Juddians are on top. Six points, er, six wins, six bonus point wins on 30 points. They're, er, they're running some tries in for fun. They managed to come back the other day on the final play of the game against Guernsey, I believe it was.

To to snatch a potential defeat out of the Jaws with the last play of the game. Which was, watching the replays back was phenomenal. Yeah, it was against Guernsey at home. 38 37 that ended [00:15:00] great final play. They've managed to put some points on the board. They went to Havant at the weekend and won 39 31 as well.

And one of the, a Gosport lad, Curtis Barnes, he's over there playing his rugby at the minute and scoring tries for fun. So it's good to see Gosport lads again, pushing themselves up the leagues and doing what they do best. Curtis, really good lad as well. So he's he's scoring some tries for fun for Tombridge.

And hopefully they can carry on their rise up through the National 2 East. We've got, Havant, have had a bit of an indifferent start. Picked up some big wins and also lost some games at, looking at the reports. They potentially could have picked up more. Guernsey, 2 0. Guernsey are in second, obviously with five wins and the one one defeat to Tom Bridge on 27 points.

Dorking, they're in third five wins and one defeat Canterbury in fourth with five wins and one defeat [00:16:00] Barnes, four wins and two defeats in fifth Havant are down in 10th at the minute with two wins and four defeats. But. have held their own in a league above where they were last season. Obviously with last season's promotion, some teams that they could have potentially thought they might get some away from and also they've probably got points away from other games that they thought they might not have started.

So not a bad start for Havant. Oxford Harlequins obviously got promoted last year as well. One draw and five defeats leaves them on five points in 11th. So Havant are on. Got eight points clear on them at the minute as well. So Oxford Harlequin's not had the greatest starts. Worthing are also struggling by the looks of it as well.

Six defeats But five, five points on the board. So five bonus point defeats Seven Oaks and Colchester are down there on six, six six defeats with two points apiece So two bonus point defeats in there for them Looks Havant [00:17:00] Hopefully will grow into the season as well. So they've managed to manage to pick up some good wins and probably pick up a defeat cut the defeats that they potentially shouldn't the field they might not have Lost but they've still come away with bonus points by the looks of it as well.

So It looks like a really good league again to keep an eye on yeah, it's a canterbury. So they've had to play tombridge canterbury Guernsey yeah, so they've had to play three of the top teams in the league already. And I've done a job on a couple of them to be fair. Lost to Westcombe Park at home as well, which they probably feel that they could have, they should have won.

Went to Worthing away and won and then had seven Oaks at home on the first game. So obviously seven Oaks look like they're struggling. So it looks Havant got the results done when they need to. And Then come up against the bigger clubs in the league as well and still put a performance in but not got the results that [00:18:00] they probably were used to over the last couple of seasons where they've run away with little bits, but Great to see Havant still pushing forward Let's move over to the National League to West Which when it says West it's a You Bit of a lick to be fair.

I was having a look at the Some of the teams in that league and it's that m6 has taken a hammering to be honest macclesfield fell into that west league as well, which is a bit of a shift for macclesfield all the way down to the likes of cornwall and stuff like that, so I Wonder if they've got a private jet macclesfield yet National League 2 West. Camborne are on top, 5 wins 1 defeat. Luctonians are in there as well, 5 wins 1 defeat. Loughborough, Cinderford, Taunton Titans, Old Red Cliffions, Bourneville Redruth, Exeter University Clifton. Hornets, Macclesfield, Hinkley and Devonport services.

So [00:19:00] some big journeys in there for a lot of clubs and Macclesfield are third from bottom on 11 points. So they've still got some points out of their their start to the season. Hinkley one, one win and five defeats on seven. We're propping up the league at the minute though. Devonport services, six defeats and two points.

So Camborne topping the league as I said earlier, 26 points, Luctonians. Looks like that's gonna be, it's gonna be close as well, because we've got basically, oh, 10 points that separates from 10th up to 1st, so be nice nice league to keep an eye on for those that are over that side. Looks like a big journey up and down the leagues there as well.

So as I mentioned a second ago, hopefully Macclesfield, the likes have got A private jet sorted or something because they're going to be some long old boat, bus journeys. But as you never try and fall asleep on a rugby bus because it's never going to end well. So I [00:20:00] wonder how many end up surviving those journeys down there as well.

Oh, even if they go down the day before and come back the next day, I don't know. But it's a, it's a. Very widespread league, but it looks very close on on results. And I wonder how much that of it's impacted through the traveling between the games there as well. So Camborne top of the league. I wonder how long that can carry on as well.

I wonder, let's have a look and see how many home games they've had out of that. To be fair, they might've had home advantage for the start of the season a little bit. And do they get caught out at the end? I don't know.

Home, home, we've had two home games, three home games, four, four out of six. And one of them was only up to red, it was across the Redruth. Yeah, you can't really claim that as an away day.

, I'm not saying they're not a good side, but it looks like they've had, the fixtures have fell their direction at the minute with With four home games. They've travelled away to Loughborough, that was their one defeat, which was 49 31 to Loughborough. [00:21:00] With The only other away game that they've had was away at Redruth, 20 minutes, half hour at the road maximum. So it's the luck of the draw potentially fell in Camborne's favour, but I'm not saying they're not capable of doing it on the away days, but always starting off the season majority at home will benefit those results. So keep an eye on that league as well.

And there's no, no shadiness or hate on Camborne there. I'm just looking at the facts of Five home games in such a widespread league. Let's see how the Let's see how the travel results carries on after the one defeat on the road as well. We'll go London. London and South East. We'll keep it nice and local. Obviously down at Pompey End. We've got Regional 1 South Central. This was the league that obviously Havant won last year to come out.

And London Welsh. Obviously Sean Shepps tipped them last season during his pod. So they've had five games, five games, five wins. 25 points, so [00:22:00] they've had a full scores on the doors. Jersey, 24, 24 points in 2nd with 5 wins. One of them they missed out on a bonus point, which I believe was against Stag's running close 27, 31, got a little bit closer. Stags are obviously in third. So fair play to Stags for keep trying to keep in with Jersey. Tough team to keep around. Stags are in third, four wins, one defeat, which obviously to Jersey. Wimbledon four wins, one defeat.

Camberley obviously had big aspirations over the last few seasons and It's they've had a big, there's some bigger teams in the league potentially this year that might stifle their promotion charge again. So three wins, two defeats there on 18. Bracknell mid table with for one win, one draw and three defeats.

Horsham keeping themselves in there with two wins and three defeats. Tunbridge Wells, who's signed Chris Whiteley, who's gone [00:23:00] across from Valencia. I think they lost Chris quite early on to quite a bad shoulder injury as well. He's a good winger for Valencia. Last season, and it looks like he's gone to Tunbridge and succumbed to injury quite early on.

There's a bit of a shame there for Chris to get across and not be able to make his stamp at Tunbridge maidenhead With one win one draw three defeats Hammersmith fullum one win and four defeats old Alleyians one win four defeats Brighton five defeats one point sadly, so it looks like they've got one one bonus point Defeat let's have a look at their fixtures.

See billy rolf good lad as well saw brighton down against Havant during preseason and Havant turned up mob and it's Not not a great start but brighton then managed to put a good result against petersfield in preseason. So We know brighton a really good side lost to [00:24:00] horsham away 27 20 to 7 and then CS Staggs at home lost 45 0 Went to Jersey away 43 17 Lost to Bracknell 19 27 Lost on the opening day 14 15 at home to to Hammersmith and Fulham first bonus points picked up on the opening game Looks like they've had a bit of a hard run of fixtures recently Got Wimbledon on, on Saturday, so I'm in London Welsh away.

So hopefully Brighton can turn the corner. I know a few lads down there really good bunch of lads so hopefully Brighton can turn that around and Get himself off the bottom of the table Got next so we're gonna go regional one south east I reckon Regional 1 South East. Letchworth Garden City. Top 5 wins, 25 points. Oundle, 5 wins, only [00:25:00] 24 points. Huel Tring 4 wins and 1 loss. Eamon, one of the Purple Cobras, place for them. Got himself a couple of videos I saw on the old Instagram of him running away. Scoring tries are fun, so really top lad as well.

Really big advocate for Purple Cobras, so keep it up Eamon. Doing really well there mate, third in that division. Looks like you've got a bit of a trick trundle around the country though. Because you've got Old Northamptonians. And you've got Sudbury, Hertford, Southend Saxons who, you know.

144 titles last season, I believe. So it looks like I've had a bit of a tougher start to the season this year to two wins and three defeats so far. And then you've got Shelford North Walsham as well, which was one of the teams Mr. James Shanahan was part of when he first ever started For those that remember that episode, Bedford Athletic, Harpenden and Amersham are propping the minute.

Another league that looks like it's got a big bit of [00:26:00] journey in. Let's see how Letchworth have started. Have they got the favourable home start to the season? There we go home game and away game at Amersham. Home game, Harpenden.

So it looks like they travel well still. Put Harpenden, they put 67 points on them. And they're 33 points on Amersham. And then they've taken their opportunities at home as well. So it looks like they're a team in the ascendancy. Be good to see how that league pans out as well with Oondle running them.

One of them close as well, on 24 points, missing out on that one bonus point. Let's see how their their their division has gone as well. Results, one home game. They've had three away days and still still done the job. A couple of games they've put 60 odd points on teams as well, looks like it's going to be a good and there for them, looks like that's another one that could potentially be tight at the top. Just keep an eye on that one throughout the season everyone. And aim and obviously keep doing what you're doing mate for a [00:27:00] tring. And hopefully you guys can catch them up and put them to the sword when they come to your come to your turf as well.

Let's go across to Southwest Regionals, shall we? We've got Southwest Tribute Regional. Regional 1 Tribute South West God, they don't half put some fucking names on these leagues. What's going on? Can we just go back to which level it is and just start playing rugby again rather than spending more time at the end, at the start of the game trying to announce which fucking league it is.

It's bollocks.

 Here we go then. So we got Regional 1, South West, I'll just call it that. Lydney at top, 4 wins and 1 draw. 22 points, Launceston, 4 wins and 1 defeat in 2nd. Exmouth, 4 wins and 1 defeat in 3rd. Barnstable, 3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss. St Austell, Brixham, and you've got Royal Wotton and Bassett, Marlborough.

Matson, [00:28:00] Ivybridge, Sidmouth, Chew Valley bot on 5, 5 defeats but 3 bonus point defeats by the looks of it. Sidmouth on the same 5 defeats but all 5 of them are bonus point defeats looks like Sidmouth. Still putting a battle up, even in defeat there to keep them nice and close. But, another league that, as we all know, that, that journey's up and down that 3 0 3.

And, the 8 30 can get pretty tiresome. Looks like they've got some So Sidmouth had Mattson. they managed to get Ivybridge. They only lost by two. Exmouth they lost by 11. I've lost by 8 to Marlborough.

but

looks like they might have got some through from scoring a few tries, so still managed to get bonus point defeats, which is fair play to them, keeping themselves in there.

And then Lydney, . Four wins and one draw, wasn't it? Who did they draw against? Oh, opening day against Marlborough. 23 23. Oh, that was looks like that was a bit of a game there. Put [00:29:00] 69 points on Sidmouth though. The other week, and then went and beat Royal Wotton Bassett as well, Lydney putting up a big fight for the season. Already, big draw that, 23 23, I bet that was a good game to watch as well, but, Regional 1 South West, bit of travelling on that one as well, but, good game. Good good league to keep an eye on there potentially, I'm sure everyone that's seen it as well is probably enjoying some of them games.

It's always nice to get away to Cornwall at times, isn't it, when you can get down and get a nice couple of games down there. Let's see what the Midlands have got. Regional one Midlands. See if that's actually the Midlands or if they stretched it out again. Here we goes, tables. You got Syston at Top, Stourbridge, Broms Grove, Banbury Bridge North Burton Nuneaton and Long Eaton. And Dudley Kings Winford Silhillians, Derby and Kenilworth.

Couple of teams in there from, I'll keep rolling up see rolling [00:30:00] around in the flaming unicorns chat as well Longy and then there was a game a charity game there the other day. I believe Bridge North got a few lads around there as well. So Looks like a nice tight league. So 20 22 points on top for system Sit Down to 11th is only separate by 13 points, which is still quite sizable top 10 Top 3 are separated by 2 points.

Syston are the only team that are unbeaten. They've had a draw, but unbeaten otherwise. Looks like a tasty league to be involved in again. Keep an eye on that one as we go through. Got to keep an eye on the old Flaming Unicorn lads. Great bunch of lads, I think they've got the RAF coming up as well in a, in another friendly soon.

If you guys are available to play or want to go and watch them, The Flaming Unicorns are on tour again. Get yourself down there, great bunch of lads. And

Always a good piss up afterwards. Shame, I gutted I didn't get the [00:31:00] chance to get on the beers with them. After some of the footage I saw afterwards, it was it was always good to see rugby being done rugby way. Next up we are gonna go Regional 1 North East. I don't know how far you guys want me to go here but I think the top leagues and then I think we'll just pick some some random ones as we go through just to keep people in the mix.

Scunning, probably the only. Success story coming out of Scunthorpe at the minute, looks like they're a rugby team. Five wins. And 24 points. Top of the league there. You've got Sandal, York, Huddersfield, Percy Park, Cleck, Heaton, Driftfield, Heath, Bladen, Selby, Ickley and Olnwick. Even Olnwick, five Five points propping up the table but four defeats in one draw so Looks like there's it's a fairly constantly not major points being put on the board scunny though.

I've got 179 I only conceded 76. So [00:32:00] some Fair play to Scunthorpe great to great to hear some success coming out of there for a change because their football team completely disappeared and dog shit and For those that have been a scunny know probably what Scunthorpes like so fair play to their rugby team for looks like they're bringing a bit of pride back to scumthorpe regional one northwest then Let's have a look Rossendale are top the league five wins 25 points and , Anselmians 25 points as well. Five wins. We're all four wind, one defeat Blackburn, Manchester on fourth and fifth. Four winds one defeat on 19 points. Newports five, three wins two defeats, 18 points.

Then you've got pen riff Stockport, Kendall Stoke on Trent. Leek and Birkenhead Park. Birkenhead Park are on zero [00:33:00] points with five defeats so doesn't look like they've managed to get many they've conceded 284 points as well so looks like it could be a tough season for Birkenhead ahead there and yeah looks like Ross and Dow and Anselmeans look like they could put some Run away with that league a little bit, be good to see how that ends up if they get a couple of wins either way.

 Let's go Regional 2 in the South, London South East, so Regional 2 South Central. We'll keep an eye, give you guys a top up on the old Petersfield, Newbury. Got to be around them, obviously they accommodate us so well, we've got to talk about how they're getting on.

In their respective league, looks like a really good league as well. Some great results. Unknown which way it could go at times. So Totts, a top 5 wins and on [00:34:00] 25 points. They're putting a real mark on this season. , Farnham. Four wins, one draw in second on 21. I believe they took a draw against Winchester the other week.

Which Winchester probably did not expect coming. Yeah, 25 25 it was the other week. So Farnham have really putting a mark on it. North Dorset, another one of, friend of the pod. 55 5, they lost to Farnham at the weekend, which is a big win. And then Petersfield have got host Farnham on Saturday, so Petersfield need to get back to winning ways after a defeat last week against Andover, which was potentially a little bit of a shock to the system.

Andover have been they're up there and around Winchester. Three wins. Won the draw and one loss, which gives them on 18 points in third, which a lot of people were hanging their hat on the start of the season, that Winchester were potentially gonna run away with a league. They [00:35:00] really started the season well and looks like some of the other teams around 'em.

So they'd lost by one point to Bourmouth at the weekend. 3 32 pumped Co. 50 50. 50. Nothing. The week before drew against Farnham Beat and over 78. 5 and then on the opening day 121. 3 get away at Winborn so a lot of people at the start of the season expected winchester to run away with it, but Tots have been going about their business.

We obviously saw winborn at newbury when we went up there and with their big win and their their fourth And doing really well in the league to be fair. Same points as Petersfield, three wins and two, two defeats. Both on both on 17 points as well. Bournemouth obviously big talk around the start of the season with financial issues.

Looks like they've managed to get that sorted now. And three wins and two defeats in the league puts them 6th on 15 points. And picking up wins against Winchester as well, which is [00:36:00] a big scalp to be fair to them. Cobham. Couple of heavy defeats, but still in 7th on 11 North Dorset. 8th on 10 points.

And then you got Newbury. 1 win of 4 defeats in 9th with 9 points. Andover. 2 wins, 3 defeats on 8 points in 10th. Chichester. 1 win, 4 defeats on 7 points in 11th in Guildford. With five defeats but four points. So it looks like there is still some tries being scored Let's obviously reach out to new bricks.

Have a look on what their next game is I believe they've got Guilford if I remember correctly off the top of my head They've no, they've got bournemouth this weekend. Apologies. So newbury have got bournemouth at newbury as well. So Looks like that could be a big game. And then they've got Guildford away the weekend after.

Hopefully Newbury can get back to winning ways because they look very good pre season and a really good bunch of lads. [00:37:00] Really good club as well. Really good to speak to them. They lost by a point at the weekend to Chobham as well which is the teams around them. They should be really trying to pick up points by the looks of it.

Hopefully we can we can get back up and around there at some point during The season as well because they're always been so accommodating. Petersfield exactly the same. Really good bunch of rugby people there as well. So great to see London and South East again. Let's go see how the Mighty Gosport are getting on.

Mighty Gosport. I know at the weekend Gosport had Guernsey twos . So it's good to see Gosport with a 22 17 win. They were on the receiving end of a cricket score though on 80 22 loss to Havant 2s, which fair play to Havant, but you never want to see that as a Gosport.

And then 52 5, the bit beating over Trojans, lost to [00:38:00] Basingstoke and Started the season with a 16 7 win against Portsmouth at home. Bit of an indifferent start for the season for Gosport, but they are sat there in 6th on 13 points. Still in reach with with it, but Havant looked like they're running away with it.

Havant twos, 25 points, 25 5 wins. 5 bonus point wins as well. Big cricket scores on a couple of teams as well. So they got, yeah, they beat Ellingham, Ringwood 1951. Beat Gosport 80 22. Went to Bognor and won 41 29. Had Eastleigh at home 53 27. And then Bournemouth 2 61 12 in the first game of the season.

Havantt2's really putting their mark on it. And it looks like having a team in Nat2 And players being able to flip between the two as well, really working out pretty well for Havant twos again. Really good [00:39:00] scheme there. Sandown Shanklin look like they're putting a bit of a battle up this year as well.

21 points, 4 wins and 1 defeat. the defeat coming to Basingstoke as well. So Basingstoke look like they're they're still They're fighting a charge. They're in third this season at the minute. Four wins, one defeat, only on 19 points. Eastleigh, three wins, one draw, one defeat. Ellingham, three wins and two draw, two defeats on 14 points in fifth.

Gosport, sixth. Guernsey, twos, two wins and three, three losses for 12, 12 points for them in seventh. Bournemouth, twos, one win, one defeat one win, one draw, three defeats, sorry, eight points in eighth. Bognor also on eight with one win and four defeats Portsmouth one win four defeats with six points in 10th Trojans 11th with six points one win four defeats new Milton one win four defeats and four points so the [00:40:00] Bottom four can't really be separated apart from on sort of bonus points at the minute So it looks like it could be a slippery slope if you miss up From 5th downwards, looks like the top two or three are potentially putting a stamp on the season already.

So it'd be good to see when they come up against each other, how they how that all pans out as well. So fair play to, to Havant twos. Obviously, Gosport putting their mark in the league as well, picking up a good win against Guernsey there. I can't really, that's a decent win against a decent side there against Guernsey.

 Where should we go?

I'm trying to find out. Bradford Salem, should we? Because obviously they had a really good season last year. With A good few trophies on the table. I think they got into a bit of financial difficulty though over the summer, so whether that's been continued and their success. So they are in Regional 2 North East.

They're 3rd at the minute with 4 wins and 1 defeat. Obviously they've got old Rod Leans. [00:41:00] Rochdale, Motley, Pontefract, Scarborough, Moortown, Wetherby, Moulton and Norton, Doncaster, Phoenix, Gould and Old Crosslands. Bradford look like they're still putting some bits on the board.

Obviously, Darragh Coyle was there, a recent guest and, yeah, they obviously put some, they got some really good wins and good few trophies last season. That one defeat Might sting them a little bit. I don't know, I'm sure, hopefully they've got the financial situation resolved as well, because yeah, there there was a few messages going out at the end of the last season that there was a significant financial issue down there.

 Another local club as well. We've got South Sea. South Sea Nomads have got, finally got a ground alongside, we'll jump back to Locksheath Pumas as well. So Locksheath, another local club to Pompey. They've got their own ground sorted. South Sea Nomads literally were called Nomads for a [00:42:00] reason.

They've only literally just managed to sort their own ground. Playing down in Counties 4, I believe, in Hampshire. Yeah. In the same league as Gosport 2s and Nomads. 3 games in, 2 wins and 1 draw. Leaves them 8th though, with 4 points. Alton at top with 3 wins. Chinham. Second, Fawley, Winchester 3s, Gosport 2s, Bognor 2s, Lymington Mariners, Nomads, Hook and Odiam and Alresford.

So there's some big teams in that league as well. And Nomads, great to see them actually having their own ground finally. They've managed to get it sorted. I lads reached out to me as well, so hopefully they are one of them that we can get round on the reformed. Rugby grassroots podcast.

 They've got Hook and Odiam the way this weekend. fawley at [00:43:00] home, Chinham away as well in coming weeks. They they managed to beat Gosport 2s at the weekend. 17 10 as well. One of their wins. One of their defeats is a home walkover against Bognor too. So it looks like they might not have been able to get a team across there.

And then they beat Alresford 40 24 as well. They've it's great to see they've finally got a ground and hopefully we can get over there. Let's let's jump across to Locksheath Pumas as well, another team with a new ground. In the Hampshire region Locksheath. Counties 2 Hampshire League. You've got Winchester 2's are top. With Havant 3's top as well. Oh, and Millbrook. Our good old mates over at Millbrook as well. They're 3rd at the minute with 3 wins but only 14 points. While Winchester and Havant are on top with 15 apiece. United Services in there as well from Pompey.

11 points. Fareham Heathens 5th with 9 points, 2 wins and a defeat. Petersfield 2's are in the same league as well. 1 win, 2 defeats. [00:44:00] Isle Of Wight are in there. 1 win, 2 defeats. 4 points. Fordingbridge, 8th with 1 point, 3 defeats. Chichester 2's are 9th with 3 defeats, 1 point. And then Locksheath are in 10th with 3 defeats and 1 point.

Loxheath look like they've had a bit of a Tough start. Let's see how many times they've managed to use that new overground. Let's see if they can hopefully make that a little bit of a fortress for them because a few lads have been over there, played the game, played for Locksheath, managed to retire on their own terms, which obviously Si Pickett from the Purple Cobras was another one.

Let's go to Winchester twos at the weekend, lost 54 10. That's a big defeat. They lost Millbrook as well. 66 19 and then lost by a point. away at Isle of Wight on the day. So their first league game at home was against Millbrook and they lost 66 [00:45:00] 19. Unlucky, obviously Millbrook, fair play to you. And hopefully they have a really good season as well because, really accommodating Millbrook and it's great to see what they're doing, especially their women's team as well.

The women's team are looking like they're really putting up some fight. Some real results as well. Managed to play against the Royal Navy the other week as well, and held them for a good 60 odd minutes. Finally succumbed, I think, potentially probably to, to the Navy obviously being a little bit more structured and having more time together, but fair play to Millbrook.

They've got US Pompey at the weekend, at Millbrook. They've got Winchester. As well, it's a fairly local derby away the weekend after. And they welcome Havant threes. At the start of November at Millbrook as well, it's it looks like it could, it's going to be a good league there. Heathens are obviously in and around.

Petersfield 2s. Millbrook, Locksheath. Yeah, fair play to them. Women's competitions, let's [00:46:00] have a look and see how Havant women's are getting on, and Millbrook as well if we can.

Let's have a look at Millbrook women's and then we'll look at Havant's.

So they're still running friendlies

 by the look of it. They don't look like they're in the full league is underway. So that's why I couldn't find them. They have got, They lost to Farnham 62 31 the other week.

 They beat the Valkyries, 55 17 on Portsmouth Valkyries, fair play to them. Lost to Ellingham and Ringwood, 66 10. Lost to Andover, 38 24. Lost to Royal Navy, 17 24. And then lost to Farnham, 62 31. And they got Avonvale, . Havant Women is coming up as well, which will be a good game to see.

That's on the 3rd of November, so if anyone wants to get across to [00:47:00] watch that. And go and watch Havant Women as well. So we'll have a look at them in a second. Because, they're really starting to pull up some trees at the minute. And of course, had some some big games. Havant Women 1s. Obviously, some big names back.

And, hopefully, we can get them. We can get Havant Women's on the pod, probably in the next cycle probably not this side of the year. When we come back the other side they are in Women's Championship South East 2. Havant Women's are currently 4th, 2 wins, 1 defeat. Trojans Ladies are top Blackheath Women's are bottom on minus 5.

Five with three wins three defeats let's Havant women's done in that first Three games So they're black eave women's at the weekend. Havant won 33 10 At barns women [00:48:00] 145 nil and then lost to trojans first game 24 15 so Havant women's this season are I've got off to a good, decent start.

Obviously, it's a long old season to be fair. So hopefully it's out of two. Their twos are getting on as well. Millbrook. Hopefully they can obviously get into a league soon and get it all set up because even though they're some of the results haven't gone their way, they're still out there and playing games and fulfilling fixtures.

So Women's. So Havants twos, NC three Southwest. So they are joint top with Trojans. Ladies three wins are both on 14 points. So Portsmouth Valkyries, ladies two are bottom of that league. They've got Oak medians, Poole, Eastleigh, East Dorset Weymouth, and Portland. [00:49:00] Looks like a half decent league there. To be fair. Women's twos. They've got results. So they beat Eastleigh Women's 35 19. They had an away win, away walkover in the junior cup against Chobham. They then won 31 5 against East Dorset Dockers and they beat Weymouth and Portland 56 5. They've They've got their league, they've got a league run in there. To be fair, so that looks like a decent backup.

With I believe there's a chance that they've got a third team being available. Potentially, depends on fixtures and stuff. We've also going to catch up on the Rugby Europe. As well Rugby Europe has started their Europe Super Cup, which unfortunately I missed most of it. Of the games that were in Spain that I wasn't able to [00:50:00] get across when we got stranded back.

Pool A consists of the Black Lions, Lustiano and the Iberians. So Spain obviously put in the Iberians, the Castillo Leono Iberians three defeats, rock bottom, zero points. They've got the game this Sunday against the against Lustianos at home, which is up in. Probably up in Burgos. Obviously available, yeah, it's up in Burgos.

It's about 6 hours for me. And I've already got rugby this weekend. I've got an away game for the Under 16s up in Valencia, taking on CAU B. And then I've got to get from there across to Alicante for an away day for my seniors game as well. Rugby is pretty much taking up most [00:51:00] of my life and I don't think the missus is enjoying it too much, but I'm, pretty happy with it to be fair Black Lions i've got four wins And four bonus point wins.

Basically they beat Lustianos 36 nil. They beat the iberians 47 21. They then beat lustiano's 38 14. They then beat Iberians again, 54 3. They've basically sewn that little league, Pool A, up. That's pretty much tied up for the Black Lions. The other side of the draw, Pool B. Which is Got a few more teams in that one, so four teams in there. We've got Delta on top on three wins on 14 points.

The Romanian Wolves in second with three two wins and one [00:52:00] defeat on 11 points. Brussels Devils, one win, two defeats on five points. And then Bohemia Rugby Warriors on three defeats, rock bottom on zero. Delta get to play the Romanian Wolves on Saturday and Brussels Devils also play Saturday against Bohemia.

So that league will pretty much be resolved in that first game. Cause I believe after this, it carries on across to the top, to basically the top, the top team win that their leagues get to play each other. So it looks like it's going to be the Black Lions against potentially Delta or the Romanian Wolves.

I Havant had much chance to keep an eye on that because obviously I've been literally flat out with other rugby stuff. But we have also seen the start of the Rugby Men's Conference, I believe.

So another league to keep an eye on if you want to keep your rugby topped up outside of the mainstream. So yeah, the conference, yeah, 24, [00:53:00] 25, we are on the way. It started a little while ago. Austria got the first win under their belt, beat Hungary 39 12. Then Moldova beat Turkey 43 13.

Montenegro, been chucked into this 55 10. Montenegro then beat, lost to Bosnia 30 20. Malta beat Cyprus 43 21. Moldova won 30 1 3 against Serbia. Turkey won 49 10 against Bulgaria. Denmark won 42 0 against Finland. Then they went and put an absolute sword through Estonia. Denmark won 105 0 against Estonia last weekend.

Slovenia also battered Kosovo 74 10. So Some big results this weekend. You've got Finland against Norway. The weekend after you've got Norway, Latvia, [00:54:00] Slovakia, Hungary, And then, got a few, there's potentially Israel re enter in February and April, maybe. Depends. Depends how that all works out.

The pools, scores on the doors. Pool A is Denmark, Norway, Latvia, Finland, Estonia, and Denmark are top. Two wins, ten points. And obviously bonus point wins as well. Austria, in pool B, you've got Austria, Slovakia, Ukraine, and Hungary. Only one game out of that one so far, which is Austria against Hungary.

Austria top with five points each. Pool C, Moldova, Turkey, Serbia, Bulgaria. We've got Moldova on top on 10 points with 2 wins. Turkey 2nd with 1 win on 5 points. Serbia and Bulgaria 3rd and 4th respectively. The Pool D, which I don't know how that's going to work out. But let's wait and see. So you've got Malta, Andorra, Israel and Cyprus.

[00:55:00] So Malta 5 points top. We'll After beating Cyprus, Andorra, and Israel, second and third on no points, not played yet. Pool E, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo. Slovenia top, five points, one game, one win. Montenegro, one win, one defeat, five points in second. Second, and they met.

Bosnia, one win, four points. I'm not sure how that's going to eventually roll out with Israel still in the mix. Hopefully they manage to get some rugby game time or they find a solution of how that is, whether one of the, I don't know whether one of the other teams are going to be able to slot across or they just have to avoid that part of the league because I don't know what the likelihood of, Israel playing any rugby at the minute unless they've managed to resolve rugby outside of Israel at a minute [00:56:00] because I Havant seen it and I can't see it happening anytime soon.

Next week. 26th Lithuania take on Luxembourg in the start of the men's trophy. Luxembourg obviously just getting promoted. Having a really good summer in the sevens as well. It would be great to see how they manage to take on Lithuania. The likes of lithuania they'll also be In that group they'll have croatia czechia Lithuania luxembourg poland after being relegated and then Sweden as well, so Looks like that will be a nice Understand because sweden also had a really good summer in the sevens as well So it'd be good to see they've got Czechia that weekend as well So two games next on the next weekend on the 26th and then If you run it, that basically runs all the way through to mid April.

Let's figure out when we got the start of [00:57:00] the Rugby Europe Championship. I don't think that starts again until next When did it start last year? It started in March last year. I very much doubt it's going to change. We'll hopefully get some games in there. What else we got? The Women's Conference as well, and the Women's Trophy have already started.

Or the Women's Conference has started, apologies. Latvia beat Norway 50 points to nil, and Romania won 66 12 against Bulgaria. No other fixtures on the list at the minute on the website. So Can't really advise whether you're able to watch any of them and the women's trophy is underway starts this weekend actually.

So another one. We've got Finland Germany and Belgium in there. So Finland take on Germany In Finland Germany play Finland at the weekend at 12 o'clock [00:58:00] In Finland, and then you've got Belgium play Finland on the 5th of the 4th. Okay. And then apparently they've already decided the Women's Trophy is going to be between Germany and Belgium.

So I'm hoping that's just a clerical error on the website and they haven't just decided that Finland are going to get absolutely topped and there's no point of even playing the other games. Hopefully that's just something they've missed and they've just planned to schedule. Some are different and they just put the two teams there by error.

Women's rugby is on the up still. We've obviously just finished the women's fifteens. Spain managed to qualify for the World Cup, which is great to see. Really good buzz around Spanish rugby at the minute as well. We are actually gonna get out to. Some of the men's games, so I have managed to get tickets for Spain against Uruguay in Madrid on the 9th So I'm going up there with the wife and the kids taking a weekend [00:59:00] away in Madrid for that one It's a nice little sacrifice for you lot.

Obviously. That's it. It's all about business. Nothing else And then on the 16th we are going to watch Spain against Fiji as well up in Valladolid. So we get to go and watch Spain against Fiji in Valladolid's football stadium. So we are, we've got tickets sorted and we are pitch side I believe. We are literally row one right by the tunnel.

So we might even manage to get some some bits. I believe Sam Matavesi has also been picked for Fiji. So Sam. If you're up for it, let's let's try and get some bits done that weekend hopefully. So I'll drop you a message at some point. And then, on the 23rd? Yeah, 23rd of November Spain are playing the USA back in Madrid.

We are in the midst of planning this as a Aguiles club trip. We are going to go, hopefully, up as planned. A mass merry band of kids, [01:00:00] parents, coaches. Take a few coaches up there. It's up there by a one o'clock kick off, so it'll be an early start. Get up there, let the kids go and watch some international rugby.

Tickets are dirt cheap, like 12 euros or something for the kids and 20 euros for the adults. Obscenely cheap. So yeah, we've got Three big international games coming up soon, which we'll hopefully get we'll be getting some footage around and hopefully some other bits as well. But the women's rugby recently, obviously the women's 15 x 15 tournament didn't disappoint.

Spain obviously winning their section, England winning theirs. So great rugby on display as well. And obviously those players are now available. Get back into the prem. The P. W. R. So it'd be good to see all of those players back in the P. W. R. And allowing those teams and the other players have managed to get blooded in during that period as [01:01:00] well, which is really good to see that as well that other players have been have to step in.

And then I think it's quite short season for the P. W. R. ready for the 2025 world cup. So yeah, it'd be great. Got some really big guests lined up in, in relation to that as well, which hopefully we're going to open the season two up with as well. I Havant forgot about rugby return. We had we had a game the other day, logistically, it was a nightmare for me to do the match day vlog that I promised.

And it was my birthday the other day. Didn't go rugby training. The other day was a light session because of Spanish holidays. And then we're back to it tonight properly, so I'll get some bits done. Took an absolute tonking. We lost 47 0 to Inter who's who would basically top a top team.

But we didn't lose a scrum, didn't do anything. Negative in that side. Just they, their back line was phenomenal. They just, Managed to find all the gaps [01:02:00] that we created platforms created there, but we didn't have any subs. We did have one sub, but he had to come on after one of our lads got knocked out after 20 minutes.

So yeah it's going to be a long season potentially with a limited amount of players. We've got 25 signed up, but 16 or 17 that seem to be available, which In the Spanish heat playing at five o'clock is going to get a long old day to be honest. So hopefully we can get some more players available and we can actually get some more put a bit of a battle up because we've got Alicante this weekend.

So that's going to be a good one. I think they took a bit of a batter in the other week. So hopefully we can we can also go and get our first win under our belt there. But I, as I said, I am in Valencia. that morning with the under 16s. So logistically I've got to get there and back and [01:03:00] across no coach supplied either.

So I've got to drive. So yeah, it's it's fun, shall we say doing grassroots rugby in Spain at the minute. There's a few quirks that still trying to understand as well, obviously from being, The president on the under 16s that had coach and then also getting involved in seniors. I'm now slowly understanding a lot more of the quirks that the Spanish game has, shall we say.

But I do apologize for rambling on with this one. I wanted just to keep you guys in the mix with episodes. Massive shout out to all the teams. In the leagues at the minute, local teams, other teams in the regional ones. All the teams in Spain the Aguiles, we managed to go to Valencia the other week against Valencia B and their Valencia B team and the under 16s was the team that won the Spanish champions league last year for their age group.

So we gone up there [01:04:00] and we put it on them and we won 30. 32 17. I think something like that. I can't remember now. We left a few points out there as well, which was a bit disappointing. But we now got to CAU B on Saturday, who's another big outfit up there. So hopefully we can carry on putting it against these Valencian teams and make them aware that we're here for this here for the duration.

So good fun coaching, good fun getting back playing. First result wasn't great, but. We're here, we're still moving, we're out playing rugby. And I hope you guys are getting back into it as well. And everyone that's been involved in the game recently, just keep going. And let's keep spreading the word. I know I'm stepping away for a little bit, for a little bit of a rest.

But we will come back, better in season 2 for the pod. But don't forget. Probably got another six weeks worth of episodes yet. So I ain't gone yet. And we're also putting some [01:05:00] substitute in between and getting the grassroots rugby back, which you guys seem to really enjoy. So I want to carry on shining that light on grassroots games.

So don't forget if you fancy us turning up to your game, being able to interview beforehand, interview during halftime and then interview afterwards, get it shared, let us know. We're more than welcome to, to pop along. I think hopefully the first game we're targeting is the 16th of November. So let's know if you want us down and let's carry on with that.

And hopefully we can get out to other clubs like yourselves recent in the coming future and carry on with spreading grassroots rugby. But finally, one thing from me, just thank you for listening through this ramblings and bit of a league review if you've made it. If you haven't, I fully understand, but I didn't want to leave you without another episode, but make sure you do share follow, subscribe, all of that gubbins, because it does help grow it to other [01:06:00] people that are willing to listen to my ramblings.

And one last thing from me, just thank you for for joining in and following and listening and hope you guys really enjoyed last week's episode with Tom as well. That worked out as a really good interview. 

So one last thing. Thank you and goodbye.